The mulberry bush, the mulberry bush,
Here we go round the mulberry bush,
On a cold and frosty morning.
--Liphook, Hants (Miss Fowler).
(_b_) The children form a ring, all joining hands and dancing round
while singing the first verse. When singing the last line they unclasp
their hands, and each one turns rapidly round. They then sing the next
verse, suiting their actions to the words they sing, again turning round
singly at the last line. This is done with every alternate verse, the
first verse being always sung as a chorus or dance in between the
different action-verses. The verses may be varied or added to at
pleasure. The actions generally consist of washing and dressing oneself,
combing hair, washing clothes, baking bread, sweeping the floor, going
to and returning from school, learning to read, cleaning boots, and
lacing stays. When "going to school," the children walk two by two in an
orderly manner; when "coming home from school," jumping and running is
the style adopted; "lacing stays," the hands are put behind and moved
first one and then the other, as if lacing; "this is the way the ladies
walk," holding up skirts and walking primly; "gentlemen walk," walking
with long strides and sticks. The dressing process and cleaning boots
preceded "school."
(_c_) This game is well known, and played in almost all parts of
England. It is always played in the same way. There is so little variety
in the different versions that it appears unnecessary to give more than
one here. In the many versions sent the only variants are: In Sporle,
Norfolk, Miss Matthews says the game is sometimes called "_Ivy_ Bush,"
or "_Ivory_ Bush;" and Mr. C. C. Bell, of Epworth, sends a version,
"Here we go round the Mulberry _Tree_" In Notts it is called "Holly
Bush" (Miss Winfield). A version given in the _Folk-lore Record_, iv.
174, is called the "_Gooseberry_ Bush," and Halliwell (_Popular Nursery
Rhymes_, p. 224) records a game, the "Bramble Bush." "The bush," he
says, "is often imaginative, but is sometimes represented by a child in
the centre." Chambers (_Popular Rhymes_, pp. 134, 135) gives the game as
a form of the "Merry-ma-tanzie"--a kind of dance. They sing while moving
round to the tune of "Nancy Dawson," and stopping short with courtesy at
the conclusion.
Here we go round the mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush, the mulberry bush,
Here we go round the mulberry bush,
And round the merry-ma-tanzie.
Disjoining hands, they then begin, with skirts held daintily up behind,
to walk singly along, singing--
This is the way the ladies walk,
The ladies walk, the ladies walk;
This is the way the ladies walk,
And round the merry-ma-tanzie.
At the last line they reunite, and again wheel round in a ring, singing
as before--
Here we go round the mulberry bush, &c.
After which, they perhaps simulate the walk of gentlemen, the chief
feature of which is length of stride, concluding with the ring dance as
before. Probably the next movement may be--
This is the way they wash the clothes,
Wash the clothes, wash the clothes;
This is the way they wash the clothes,
And round the merry-ma-tanzie.
After which there is, as usual, the ring dance. They then represent
washing, ironing clothes, baking bread, washing the house, and a number
of other familiar proceedings.
Chambers quotes a fragment of this "little ballet," as practised at
Kilbarchan, in Renfrewshire, which contains the following lines similar
to those in this game:--
She synes the dishes three times a day,
Three times a day, three times a day;
She synes the dishes three times a day,
Come alang wi' the merry-ma-tanzie.
She bakes the scones three times a day,
Three times a day, three times a day;
She bakes the scones three times a day,
Come alang wi' the merry-ma-tanzie.
She ranges the stules three times a day,
Three times a day, three times a day;
She ranges the stules three times a day,
Come alang wi' the merry-ma-tanzie.
This game originated, no doubt, as a marriage dance round a sacred tree
or bush. As it now exists it appears to have no other character than the
performance of duties such as those enumerated in the description. In no
version that I am acquainted with do the elements of love and marriage
or kissing occur, otherwise the resemblance it bears to the Scotch
"Merry-ma-tanzie" would suggest that it is a portion of that game. This
game possesses the centre tree, which is not preserved in
"Merry-ma-tansa." Trees were formerly sacred to dancing at the marriage
festival, as at Polwarth in Berwickshire, where the custom once
prevailed, which is not unworthy of notice. "In the midst of the village
are two thorn trees near to each other; round these every newly-married
pair were expected to dance with all their friends; from hence arose the
old song, 'Polwarth on the Green'" (_New Statistical Account of
Scotland, Polwarth, Berwickshire_, ii. 234). Holland (_Cheshire
Glossary_), under "Kissing Bush," says, "A bush of holly, ivy, or other
evergreens, which is hung up in farm kitchens at Christmas, and serves
the purpose of mistletoe. The kissing bushes are usually prepared by the
farm lads on Christmas Eve, and they are often tastefully decorated with
apples, oranges, and bits of gay-coloured ribbon. I have occasionally
seen them made upon a framework of hoop iron something in the form of a
crown, with a socket at the bottom to hold a lighted candle." Brand (ii.
15) also describes how in Ireland men and women dance round about a bush
in a large ring on the Patron Day. Newell (_Games_, p. 86), gives this
game, and also mentions one in which "barberry bush" is named. The tune
in all versions is the same. See "Merry ma-tansa," "Nettles."
Munshets or Munshits
Is played by two boys as follows:--One of the boys remains "at home,"
and the other goes out to a prescribed distance. The boy who remains "at
home" makes a small hole in the ground, and holds in his hand a stick
about three feet long to strike with. The boy who is out at field throws
a stick in the direction of this hole, at which the other strikes. If he
hits it, he has to run to a prescribed mark and back to the hole without
being caught or touched with the smaller stick by his playfellow. If he
is caught, he is "out," and has to go to field. And if the boy at field
can throw his stick so near to the hole as to be within the length or
measure of that stick, the boy at home has to go out to field. A number
of boys often play together; for any even number can play. I am told
that the game was common fifty years ago. In principle it resembles
cricket, and looks like the rude beginning of the game.--Addy's
_Sheffield Glossary_.
See "Cat," "Cudgel," "Kit-cat," "Tip-cat."
Musical Chairs
A line of chairs is placed in a row down a room (one chair less than the
number of children who are playing) in such a way that every alternate
chair only is available on either side for the players to seat
themselves. The children walk or dance round the chairs, keeping quite
close to them. The piano or other musical instrument is played while
they are dancing round. The music is continued for any length of time
the player pleases, the children running round the chairs as long as the
music goes on. The player stops the music suddenly, when all the
children endeavour to take seats. One will be unable to find a seat, and
this player remains "out." A chair is then taken away, and the music and
dancing round begins again. There should always be one chair less than
the number of players.--A. B. Gomme.
In Ellesmere, Miss Burne says, "Snap-tongs," called in other circles
"Magic Music" or "Musical Chairs," is thus played. Five players take
part; four chairs are set in the middle, and one of the players, who
holds a pair of tongs, desires the others to dance round them till the
clock strikes a certain hour, which is done by snapping the tongs
together so many times. While they dance, a chair is taken away, and the
player who cannot find a seat has to become the "snap-tongs" next
time.--_Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 525.
Nacks
A game in which pegs of wood play a similar part to the well-known
object "Aunt Sally."--Robinson's _Mid Yorkshire Glossary_.
Namers and Guessers
Any number of players can play this game. Two are chosen, the one to be
Namer, and the other Guesser or Witch. The rest of the players range
themselves in a row. The Guesser retires out of sight or to a distance.
The Namer then gives each player a secret name. When names have been
given to all the players, the Namer calls on the Guesser to come, by
saying--
Witchie, witchie, yer bannocks are burnin',
An' ready for turnin'.
Whereupon he approaches, and the Namer says--
Come, chois me out, come, chois me in, to ----
(naming one by the assumed name). The players all shout, "Tack me, tack
me," repeatedly. The Witch points to one. If the guess is correct the
player goes to the Witch's side, but if it is incorrect he goes to the
Namer's side. This goes on till all the players are ranged on the one
side or the other. The two parties then come to a tug, with the Namer
and Guesser as leaders. The gaining party then ranges itself in two
lines with a space between the lines, each boy holding in his hand his
cap or his handkerchief tightly plaited. The boys of the conquered side
have then to run between the two lines, and are pelted by the victors.
This is called, "Throuw the Muir o' Hecklepin."--Keith (Rev. W. Gregor).
This game is practically the same as "Fool, Fool, come to School," but
the secret naming may indicate that this belongs to an earlier form.
See "Fool, Fool," "Hecklebirnie."
Neighbour
There is a game called "Neighbour, I torment thee," played in
Staffordshire, "with two hands, and two feet, and a bob, and a nod as I
do."--Halliwell's _Dictionary_.
Neiveie-nick-nack
A fireside game. A person puts a little trifle, such as a button, into
one hand, shuts it close, the other hand is also shut; then they are
both whirled round and round one another as fast as they can, before the
nose of the one who intends to guess what hand the prize is in; and if
the guesser be so fortunate as to guess the hand the prize is in, it
becomes his property; the whirling of the fists is attended with the
following rhyme--
Neiveie, neiveie, nick nack,
What ane will ye tak,
The right or the wrang?
Guess or it be lang,
Plot awa' and plan,
I'll cheat ye gif I can.
--Mactaggart's _Gallovidian Encyclopædia_.
The Rev. W. Gregor says at Keith this game is played at Christmas, and
by two. The stakes are commonly pins. One player conceals a pin, or more
if agreed on, in one of his (her) hands. He then closes both hands and
twirls them over each other, in front of the other player, and repeats
the words--
Nivvie, nivvie-neek-nack,
Filk (which) (or filk han') 'ill ye tack?
Tack the richt, tack the left,
An' a'll deceave ye gehn (if) I can.
The other player chooses. If he chooses the hand having the stake, he
gains it. If he does not, he forfeits the stake. Another form of words
is--
Nivvie, nivvie-neek-nack
Filk (which) will ye tick-tack?
Tack ane, tack twa,
Tack the best amo' them a'.
And--
Nivvie, nivvie-nick-nack,
Which han' will ye tack?
Tack ane, tack twa,
Tack the best amo' them a'.
Dickinson's _Cumberland Glossary_ describes this as a boyish mode of
casting lots. The boy says--
Neevy, neevy-nack,
Whether hand will ta tack,
T'topmer or t'lowmer?
Mr. W. H. Patterson (_Antrim and Down Glossary_) gives the rhyme as--
Nievy, navy, nick nack,
Which han' will ye tak',
The right or the wrang?
I'll beguile ye if I can.
Chambers (_Popular Rhymes_, p. 117) gives the rhyme the same as that
given by Mr. Patterson. In _Notes and Queries_, 6th Series, vii. 235, a
North Yorkshire version is given as--
Nievie, nievie, nack,
Whether hand wilta tak,
Under or aboon,
For a singal half-crown?
Nievie, nievie, nick, nack,
Whilk han' will thou tak?
Tak the richt or tak the wrang,
I'll beguile thee if I can.
Jamieson (_Supp., sub voce_) adds: "The first part of the word seems to
be from neive, the fist being employed in the game." A writer in _Notes
and Queries_, iii. 180, says: "The neive, though employed in the game,
is not the object addressed. It is held out to him who is to guess--the
conjuror--_and it is he who is addressed_, and under a conjuring name.
In short (to hazard a wide conjecture, it may be) he is invoked in the
person of Nic Neville (Neivi Nic), a sorcerer in the days of James VI.,
who was burnt at St. Andrews in 1569. If I am right, a curious testimony
is furnished to his quondam popularity among the common people." It will
be remembered that this game is mentioned by Scott in _St. Ronan's
Well_--"Na, na, said the boy, he is a queer old cull. . . . He gave me
half-a-crown yince, and forbade me to play it awa' at pitch and toss."
"And you disobeyed him, of course?" "Na, I didna disobey him--I played
it awa' at 'Nievie, nievie, nick-nack.'"
See "Handy-dandy."
Nettles
Nettles grow in an angry bush,
An angry bush, an angry bush;
Nettles grow in an angry bush,
With my high, ho, ham!
This is the way the lady goes,
The lady goes, the lady goes;
This is the way the lady goes,
With my hi, ho, ham!
Nettles grow in an angry bush, &c.
This is the way the gentleman goes, &c.
Nettles grow in an angry bush, &c.
This is the way the tailor goes.
--Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, 227.
(_b_) The children dance round, singing the first three lines, turning
round and clapping hands for the fourth line. They curtsey while saying,
"This is the way the lady goes," and again turn round and clap hands for
the last line. The same process is followed in every verse, only varying
what they act--thus, in the third verse, they bow for the gentleman--and
so the amusement is protracted _ad libitum_, with shoemaking, washing
clothes, ironing, churning, milking, making up butter, &c, &c.
(_c_) This game is practically the same as the "Mulberry Bush." The
action is carried on in the same way, except that the children clap
their hands at the fourth line, instead of each turning themselves
round, as in "Mulberry Bush." The "High, ho, ham!" termination may be
the same as the "I, O, OM" of Mr. Addy's version of "Milking Pails."
See "Mulberry Bush," "When I was a Young Girl."
New Squat
A ring is made by marking the ground, and a tin placed in the middle of
it. One boy acts as keeper of the tin, the other players also stand
outside the ring. One of these kicks the tin out of the ring, the others
then all run to hide or squat out of sight. The keeper has to replace
the tin before looking for the boys. If, after that, he can spy a boy,
that boy must come out and stand by the ring. When another boy is spied,
he endeavours to reach the ring before the keeper does so, and kick out
the tin. If he is successful, any one of the boys who is standing by,
having been previously spied, is released from the keeper, and again
hides. The object of the keeper is to successfully spy all the boys.
When this is accomplished the last boy becomes the keeper.--Earls
Heaton, Yorks. (Herbert Hardy).
See "Mount the Tin."
Nine Holes
Nine round holes are made in the ground, and a ball aimed at them from a
certain distance; or the holes are made in a board with a number over
each, through one of which the ball has to pass.--Forby's _Vocabulary_.
"A rural game," says Nares, "played by making nine holes in the ground,
in the angles and sides of a square, and placing stones and other things
upon, according to certain rules." Moor (_Suffolk Words and Phrases_)
says: "This is, I believe, accurate as far as it goes, of our Suffolk
game. A hole in the middle is necessary." In Norfolk, Holloway (_Dict.
Prov._) says that nine round holes are made in the ground, and a ball
aimed at them from a certain distance. A second game is played with a
board having nine holes, through one of which the ball must pass. Nares
quotes several authors to show the antiquity of the game. He shows that
the "Nine Men's Morris" of our ancestors was but another name for "Nine
Holes." Nine, a favourite and mysterious number everywhere, prevails in
games.
Strutt (_Sports_, p. 384) also describes the game as played in two
ways--a game with bowling marbles at a wooden bridge; and another game,
also with marbles, in which four, five, or six holes, and sometimes
more, are made in the ground at a distance from each other, and the
business of every one of the players is to bowl a marble, by a regular
succession, into all the holes, and he who completes in the fewest bowls
obtains the victory. In Northamptonshire a game called "Nine Holes," or
"Trunks," is played with a long piece of wood or bridge with nine arches
cut in it, each arch being marked with a figure over it, from one to
nine, in the following rotation--VII., V., III., I., IX., II., IIII.,
VI., VIII. Each player has two flattened balls which he aims to bowl
edgeways under the arches; he scores the number marked over the arch he
bowls through, and he that attains to forty-five first wins the game
(Baker's _Northamptonshire Glossary_). In _Arch. Journ._, xlix. 320, in
a paper by Mr. J. T. Micklethwaite, this game is described, and diagrams
of the game given which had been found by him cut in a stone bench in
the church of Ardeley, Hertfordshire, and elsewhere. He has also seen
the game played in London. It is evidently the same game as described by
Nares and Moor above.
See "Bridgeboard," "Nine Men's Morris."
Nine Men's Morris
In the East Riding this game is played thus: A flat piece of wood about
eight inches square is taken, and on it twenty-four holes are bored by
means of a hot skewer or piece of hot iron.
[Illustration: Fig. 1.]
Each of the two players has nine wooden pegs, which are either
coloured or shaped differently, and the object of each player is to
get three of his own pegs in a straight line (fig. 1). It is called
"Merrils."--Sheffield (S. O. Addy).
Cotgrave's _Dictionarie_, 1632, says: "_Merelles_, le jeu de merelles,
the boyish game called merrils, or fiue-pennie morris. Played here most
commonly with stones, but in France with pawns or men made of purpose,
and termed merelles." Strutt (_Sports_, p. 317) says: "This was why the
game received this name. It was formerly called 'Nine Men's Morris' and
'Five-penny Morris,' and is a game of some antiquity. It was certainly
much used by the shepherds formerly, and continues to be used by them
and other rustics to the present hour." An illustration of the form of
the merelle table and the lines upon it, as it appeared in the
fourteenth century, is given by him, and he observes that the lines have
not been varied. The black spots at every angle and intersection of the
lines are the places for the men to be laid upon. The men are different
in form and colour for distinction's sake, and from the moving these men
backwards and forwards, as though they were dancing a morris, I suppose
the pastime received the name of "Nine Men's Morris," but why it should
have been called "Five-penny Morris" I do not know. The manner of
playing is briefly thus:--Two persons, having each of them nine pieces
or men, lay them down alternately, one by one, upon the spots, and the
business of either party is to prevent his antagonist from placing three
of his pieces so as to form a row of three without the intervention of
an opponent piece. If a row be formed, he that made it is at liberty to
take up one of his competitor's pieces from any part he thinks most to
his own advantage, excepting he has made a row, which must not be
touched, if he have another piece upon the board that is not a component
part of that row. When all the pieces are laid down they are played
backwards and forwards in any direction that the lines run, but can only
move from one spot to another at one time. He that takes off all his
antagonist's pieces is the conqueror. The rustics, when they have not
materials at hand to make a table, cut the lines in the same form upon
the ground and make a small hole for every dot. They then collect stones
of different forms or colours for the pieces, and play the game by
depositing them in the holes in the same manner that they are set over
the dots on the table. Hence Shakespeare, describing the effects of a
wet and stormy season, says--
"The folds stand empty in the drowned field,
And crows are fatted with the murrain flock--
The Nine Men's Morris is filled up with mud."
--_Midsummer Nights Dream_, act ii. sc. 2.
Miss Baker (_Northamptonshire Glossary_), in describing "Merell" or
"Morris," says:--"On the inclosing of open fields this game was
transferred to a board, and continues a fireside recreation of the
agricultural labourer. It is often called by the name of 'Mill' or
'Shepherd's Mill.'" She says the mode of playing now observed is this.
Each of the players has nine pieces, or men, differing in colour, or
material, from his adversary, for distinction's sake; which they lay
down on the spots alternately, one by one, each endeavouring to prevent
his opponent from placing three of his pieces in a line, as whichever
does so is entitled to take off any one of his antagonist's men where he
pleases, without breaking a row of three, which must not be done whilst
there is another man on the board. After all the pieces are placed on
the board, they are moved alternately backwards and forwards along the
lines; and as often as either of the players succeeds in accomplishing a
row of three, he claims one of his antagonist's men, which is placed in
the pound (the centre), and he who takes the most pieces wins the game.
It is played on a board whereon are marked three squares, one being
denominated the pound. It is sometimes played with pegs, bits of paper,
or wood, or stone. It is called "Peg Morris" by Clare, the
Northamptonshire poet.
The ancient game of "Nine Men's Morris" is yet played by the boys of
Dorset. The boys of a cottage, near Dorchester, had a while ago carved a
"Marrel" pound on a block of stone by the house. Some years ago a
clergyman of one of the upper counties wrote that in the pulling down of
a wall in his church, built in the thirteenth century, the workmen came
to a block of stone with a "Marrel's" pound cut on it. "Merrels" the
game was called by a mason.--Barnes' _Additional Glossary; Folk-lore
Journal_, vii. 233.
"'Nine Men's Morris,' in Gloucestershire called 'Ninepenny Morris,'
was," says a correspondent in the _Midland Garner_, "largely practised
by boys and even older people over thirty years ago, but is now, as far
as I know, entirely disused. Two persons play. Each must have twelve
pegs, or twelve pieces of anything which can be distinguished. The
Morris was usually marked on a board or stone with chalk, and consists
of twenty-four points. The pegs are put down one at a time alternately
upon any point upon the Morris, and the first person who makes a
consecutive row of three impounds one of his opponent's pegs. The pegs
must only be moved on the lines. The game is continued until one or
other of the players has only two pegs left, when the game is won" (1st
ser., i. 20). Another correspondent in the same journal (ii. 2) says,
"The game was very generally played in the midland counties under the
name of 'Merrilpeg' or 'Merelles.' The twelve pieces I have never seen
used, though I have often played with nine. We generally used marbles or
draught pieces, and not pegs."
The following are the accounts of this game given by the commentators on
Shakespeare:--